Patents by Inventor Kenzo Komatsu

Kenzo Komatsu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6041877
    Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine 1; a transmission 3 connected to the internal combustion engine 1 via a clutch 2; a primary differential gear 11 for distributing a driving force transmitted from the transmission 3, to primary driving wheels 17 and 18; a transfer 20 connected to the primary differential gear for taking out a part of the driving force transmitted from the transmission 3 to the primary differential gear 11; a pair of propeller shafts 26 and 27 formed by dividing two parts in axial directions for transmitting part of the driving force from the transfer to a secondary differential gear 33; an electric motor 31 provided between these propeller shafts 26 and 27; and a pair of clutches 29 and 30, each connecting the electric motor 31 to one of the pair of propeller shafts 26 and 27. Therefore, the drive unit can be used for 2WD or 4WD hybrid vehicles without changing the main components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takemasa Yamada, Fujio Matsui, Shihomi Hiroishi, Kenzo Komatsu